Red card, red-faced

JEREMY Wraight has been suspended for four games after being sent off for abusing a match official in the Football Far North Coast men's premier league.

The Casino Cobras sweeper told the referee he was a "f.....g cheat" and was sent from the field on a straight red card in the 2-1 loss to Byron Bay on May 12.

Football FNC meted out a four-match ban and a further four-match suspended sentence to a player described as one who plays the game hard.

Although Football FNC general manager Steve Mackney would not reveal the identity of the player or the club, Casino premier league coach Matt Kenny yesterday confirmed that Wraight was sent off against Byron Bay and had been suspended for four games.

"We have a policy where we do not disclose the player's name or club," Mackney said.

Mackney revealed, though, that in this particular case there had been repeated verbal abusive attacks on the match official and that the player was charged with offensive language and unsporting conduct.

"The whole issue of send-offs in our game needs to be recognised in that a player being red-carded is not an uncommon event," Mackney said.

"Being sent off in football is different to say, rugby league, where players are rarely sent off."

Once the report from the officials is submitted, the administration then determines the severity of the punishment.

"There is no judiciary as such, we deal with these matters summarily, the report is submitted by the match official and the sanction is considered on that information," Mackney said.

In 2010 the charge of abusive language towards a match official, the most common offence, incurred a mandatory three-match suspension but was reduced to one match last year.

However, Mackney did say "we have a code of behaviour and it will be upheld".

"Any instances of abuse against match officials will not be tolerated."